test people

Mother Barbara became the rector of St. Andrew’s in January 2012. She joyfully serves our parish as priest, spiritual guide and pastor. She was graduated from the General Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity Degree and ordained in this Diocese of Central Pennsylvania in 2008. She served St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Port Washington, NY as Assistant and then Interim Rector, before returning home to this area in the fall of 2011. Although Barbara embraces all areas of parish…

St. Andrew’s, this warm and welcoming community is my spiritual home for more reasons than I can name. What stands out? There are so many opportunities to engage in activities that stretch and form my spirituality in such a way that all facets of my living are transformed: Participating in the liturgy, the opportunity to explore my gifts. The opportunity to explore the gifts of others. Learning and experiencing that what I say on Sunday mornings is what I am. Deeper living,…

I have chosen to make St. Andrew’s my spiritual home because it is a warm, positive community willing to explore many different facets of the Christian tradition with care and intentionality. Also, St. Andrew’s continually welcomes children with an eye to creating a safe and enriching space for them to grow in their faith.

In 1986, I attended a wedding at the Episcopal Church in Doyelstown, PA. The couple was not allowed to get married in the Catholic Church for one reason or another. The ceremony was very small with just a few friends. The families refused to attend. It was a beautiful night ceremony and the couple was so much in love and so happy that they could be married in a church. When I moved to Shippensburg and was “shopping ” for…

I look forward to our weekly 8:00 a.m. service, with its quiet, meditative tone. The prayerful setting and Mother Barbara’s thought-provoking words are uplifting. We have also gotten to know many parishioners who are not only delightful, but represent wonderful models for living a Christ-filled life. We are most thankful to call St. Andrew’s our parish family!

A lay member since 2002, Mike joined the Vergers Guild of the Episcopal Church in 2010 and in 2012 obtained the rank of Fellow of the Guild. In the past the Verger was known as the protector of the church but in modern times this has changed to a ministry of welcome. The Verger helps in the planning of regular and special services, trains lectors, chalice bearers, ushers and acolytes, leads tours of the church and is available to answer…

The answer as to why St. Andrew’s is my church comes down to one word: community. When searching for a church years ago, we were greeted and engaged warmly here and ended our search that day, embracing St. Andrew’s as our spiritual home. Through the years, the missions of the parish, from programs for the youth to serving those in need in our area, have strengthened my ties to this community within and beyond the walls of the church.